Suspended ceiling clip



p 1963 M. L. LYDARD SUSPENDED CEILING CLIP Filed Dec. 1 61 FIG i ""w'y I), am.

[8 F l G. 5

U itedStates Patent Martin Products Corporation, Baltimore,,Md., acorporation .ofMaryland j Filed Deal, 1961, Ser. No. 156,353

6 Claims. ((31,189-35) Q SUSPENDED CEILING our j p L. Lydarrl, Ellieott City, Mi, assignor to Eastern The present invention relatesto suspended ceiling construction and more particularly to a clip for use in such constructions. a i I In suspended ceiling constrhctions as commonlynsed,

a series of spaced parallel runners are suspended from primary ceiling members and are used to support the "acoustical tiles or other sheets or panels which make up all or a major portion of the ceiling as viewed from the room beneath. The runners are generally formed with a vertical web portion and horizontal flanges at the top and bottom, the top flanges abutting against the primary ceiling members and the bottom'flanges serving to support the acoustical tiles or other sheets or panels. The

runners may be formed as nailing bars having a vertical web and horizontal flangesat the top. i i

' Steel wire clips of various shapes have heretofore been used for attaching runners to the primary ceiling members. The present inventionis concerned with providing a novel and improved clip foruse in a construction in suspended ceiling clips must be relatively inexpensive, it

can be expected that substantial dimensional variations will occur during manufacture; but, despite such variations, the clips should perforrnsatisfactorily. Another important requirement for such clips is that .they aitord as much stability as possible to the ceiling construction.

a novel and improved ceiling suspension clip.

More particularly, it has been an object ofthe invention to provide sucha clip" whichfulfillsthe foregoing and other requirements more satisfactorily than has .beenpossible with clip designs previously use i Patented Sept. 3, .1963

a runner13 from a ceiling channel member 14. i The runner 13, which may be formed from a single strip of steel or other suitable material, has a vertical web 15, horizontal flanges 16and 17 extending laterally from the top of Web 15 at respective sides thereof and horizontal flanges .18: and 19 extending laterally from the bottom-of web 'l5 at respective sides thereof. The ceiling channel member 14 has a vertical web 20 and'horizontal flanges 21 and 22 extending laterally from the top and bottom, respectively, of web 20 atone side thereof. -1" i J .1

Wheninstalled, the channel member 14 and the runner 13 aredisposed so that their axes forma rightangle, with the. upper surfacesof flanges 16 and 17 abutting the undersurface of flange .22. The runner 13 is supported from and is maintained in position beneath channel member 14 by the clip of the invention.

The lower portion 12 of the clip is formed by legs 23' and 24; each of which has a free end formed by the rc-I speotive ends of the wire stock. The free end of the leg 23 contacts the undersurface of flange 16 and the leg is inclined downwardly and extends at an angle with respect to the axes of the runner '13 "and channel member 14. Similarly, the free endof the leg 24 contacts the undersur-face of flange 1,7:and the leg is inclined downwardly *and extends at an angle with respect'to the axes of the runnerfi13 and channel member 14. j The free ends of the legs- 23 and 24 preferably touch each other before installation and lie adjacent the web 15 afterinstallation.

The legs 23 and 24 are joined to legs 25 and 26, respectively, by curved bends 27 and 28, respectively, which might have, for example, a A; inch radius. The bends 27 and 28 are disposed approximately beneath the web 15 and outwardly of the free ends. of the flanges l6 and 17, respectively. The legs. 25 and 26 comprise the clipintermediate portion 11 and are disposed so as to lie substantially vertically and adjacent the outer surface of web Ztl. The legs 25 and 26 are inclined inwardlyin a vertical plane toward the plane iof web 15. At their upper ends the legs 25 and 26 are adjacent the upper surface of flange 21 and are separatedfrom each otherby an appreciable distance which is substantially lessthan the combined i widths of flanges 16and 17. For example,,if flanges 1d .45 A principal object of the invention has been to provide Other and further objects, featuresand advantages of i the invention will appear more fully from thefollowing description taken in connection with the appended drawing, in which:

embodying the invention; i

FIG; 2 is a side elevational view of the clip of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational View of the clip of FIG. 1;

. FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, showing the and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along theline I 11; and abottorn portion 1 2, each constituted by various legs formed by bending the wire stock.

a l i FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a ceiling suspension clip Asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the clip serves to suspend i and 17 have a combined width of inch and if the height of channel member 14 is 1%; inches, the spacing between the upper ends of legs 25 and Zdrnight be 2 inch.

The upper ends of legs 25 and 26am joined to legs 29 and 30, respectively, by relatively short radiuslbends 31 and 32, respectively. The bends 31 and 32 ,might be formed, for example, with a radius of inch. The heightof the legs 25- and 26 is selected so that the inner center of the bends 31 and, 32will lie slightly above the upper surface of flange 21.

The legs 29 and 30 are inclined outwardly with redownwardlywiht respect to the upper surface of flange .21. Thus, contact between the legs 29 and 30' and the upper surface of flange 21 will occur primarily adjacent the front edge of flange 21, i.e., the free end of. flange 21. clip of FIG. 1 installed in a ceiling systern;

The legs 29 andISli are joined to legs 33 and 34, re-

spectively, bybends 35fand 36, respectively. Thebends Q35 and 36 are formed with a relatively lange radius, e.-g.,

inch. The legs 33' and 34 are inclined inwardly with (respect to the plane of web 1'5 and are inclined slightly downwardly with respect to the upper surface of flange 2 1. The ,legs 3 3 and 34 are joined by a bend 37 which might have for example, a radius of A; inch. i

*The downward inclinations of legs 29, 3%;33 and 34 with The horizontal spacing between the inner center of heady an h ne s rfaces of l ss zfi n 26 is slig ly greater than the width of flange 21. The legs 29,30;

' 33 and 34and' their joining bends comprise the clip upper portign 10 and have a generally heart shape, as shown in FIG. 1. i r a To install the clipg th e runner 1,3 and channel'me'rnbet-1A are brought into position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Ilhe clip is sprung on over the flanges 15 and'1'7 of the runnerand brought into contact with the channel member. Because the downward inclination of the upper portion .10 of the clip, the legs 33 and 34- and the bend 37 will not readily passove; the top flange To cause the legs 33 34and the bend 37 to pass over the top of flange 241, .a substantial force musttbe'exerted, as by pushing with thethninbson legs 25 and is while holding the channel member with the fingers. This substantial fence causes the legs 33 and 314 and the bend 37 t n1ove upwardly against the spring action of the clip material. Bending of the legs 29 and 30and of the legs 23 and Z4- against the spring action of the clip material also aids in permitting this clearance. When the inner end of bend 37 clears the edge of flange 21, the legs 33 and 34 and the bend 371 spring downwardly so that the inner center of bend 37 lies at the legs 29 and 30 in tight contact with the upper surface of flange 21and also the freeends of legs 23' and 2 4 in tight contact with the undersurfac'e of flanges 16 and 17, respectively. j r i fIn constructing a complete ceiling, the runner 13 will be suspended from at least two, and generally more, parallel ceiling channel members .by the use of clips identical to that shown.

An important advantage secured by the clip of the in surface of said ceiling member, .said first pair of legs ext n in r lly inw rdl and upwa d y t am sai second pair of legsv and, when said clip is installed, extending generally in one direction along the axis of said runner, and an upper portion formed by a series of bends in'sai-d wine and being joined at each end to the upper end flange surface of said ceiling member when said clip is installed, said upper portion extending beyond the outer edge of said upper flange surface of said-ceiling member and having an area disposed. adjacent the outeredge-of said upper flange surface when said clip is installed, the combined heights of said first and second portions being substantially equal to the combined heightscf said ceiling member said runnerlflanges, the downward inclihation of said upper portion being s i iflici e nt tovrequireha substantial springing of said clip for installation thereof.

2. A Wire clip for useful attachingan elongated run; ner to an elongated ceiling inernbe rgsaid runner and said member extending transverselywith respect to each other, said ceiling member being a channel having sauna-11y extending cuter 'vcrti cali 'surface and axially extending horizonta-lfflange surfaces" projecting laterally 'inone direction from said vertical surf-ace attire top and bottom thereof, saidrunner having an axially extending vertical web and axially extendinghorizontal flange surfaces pro]- jecting laterally in opposite directions from the upper end of said vertical Eweb, the upper surfiaces of said runner flanges being adapted to be in surface con-tact vvith said lower flange'surface of said memberj' said wire clip being formed from a single length'of :spring wire and cornpris 'ing a lower portion having a first pair of legs each located at a respectiveend of saidwlength of wire: and

vention results from the permanent spring tension in the clip after installation, Because of this tension, the run-- ner. and beam will be held in tight contact and will not tend to, come apart, as' can happen when some other types of clips aretused or when a simple twisted wire suspension is used.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof and in a specific use, various'modifications thereof 'willoccur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A Wire clip for use in attaching an elongated runner -to an elongated ceiling member, said runner and said member extending transversely with respect to each other,

' i said ceiling member having an axially extending outer vertical sunface and axially extending horizontal flange surfaces projecting laterally in one direction from said vertical surface at the top and bottom, thereof, said runner having an axially extending vertical web and axially extending horizontal flange surfaces projecting laterially in opposite directions from the upper end of said vertical web, the upper surfaces of said runner flanges being adapted to' be in surface'contact with said lower flange surface of said member; said wire clip being formed from a single lengthiof stiff wire and comprising a lower portion having afirstpair of legs each located at a respective end of said length of wire and each being adapted to contact the undersurface of a respective one of said runner flanges, an intermediateportion having a second pair of legs each joined atone end to a respective one of the legs of first pair and being adapted to lie adjacent said vertical each being adapted to contact lthe'iundersurface of are;

speotive one of sfaid runner ,flanges atlacorresponding pointiadj acent said runner intermediateportion having a second pair of legs eaehjoined atone end toa respective one of the legs of said firstpair and being .adapted to 'lieadjacentsaid vertical surface of said ceil- 1ng member,'said first pair 'ofwlegs extending generally inwardlyland upwardly from said second of and, when said clip" is installed, extendinggenerally in pne direction along the axisof said runner, and an upper portion having :a generally heart-like shape formed by a series of bends in said 'rwire "and being joined at each end to the upper end of a respective one of said legs of said second pair, said upper portion extending generally in said one direction and being inclined downwardly from said second pair of legs so thatfsaid upper portion is adapted to contact the upperjfiange surfacelof said ceiling member when said clip isinstalled, said upper portion extending beyond the outer edge of said upper flange surface of said ceiling member and having an'akrea forming the apex of said heart shape disposed adjacent the outer edge of said upper flange when said clip is installed, the combined heights of, said first and second por- 'tio'ns being substantially equal to the combined heights ,of said ceiling member and said runner flanges, the downlwardinclination of saidupper portion being suflicient to require a substantial springing of said-clip for installation thereof, the spring tension in said clip being only "partially relieved when said clip' is fully installed.

, '3. A wire clip for use in attaching an elongated runner to an elongated ceiling memben'lsaid runner and said member extending transversely with respect toeach other, said ceilingmember having, an axially extending outer vertical surface and axially extending horizontal flange surfaces projecting later-ally in one direction from said vertical surface at the top and bottom thereof, saidrun ner having'an' axially extending vertical web' and axially extending horizontal flange surfaces projecting latenally in oppositedi-rections from the upper end of Sant na web, the upper surfaces of said adapted to be in surface contact with said lower flange surweb, the upper surfaces of said runner flanges being adapted to be in surface contact with said lower flange surface of said member; said wire clip being formed from a single length of stillwire and comprising:

(1) a lower portion comprising a first pair of legs each .beneath said vertical surface of said member and outward of the outer edges of the respective flanges of said runner; 1 7 (2) an intermediate portion comprising a of legs, extending upwardly in a generally vertical plane and beingjoined at the lower ends thereof 3 to respective legs of said first pair by respective ones second pair ofla first pair of bends in said Wire, the legs of said second pair being inclined inwardly toward each other, said legs of said second pair being adapted to, lie adjacent said-vertical surface of said ceiling member and the upper ends of said legs of said second pair being substantially at the height of said J upper flange. surface of said ceiling member when said clip is installed; and

(3) an upper portion comprising a third pair of legs each connected at the rear end thereof to a respec tive leg of said second pair by respective ones of a second pair of bends in said wire, the legs of said third pair of legs lying in a plane inclined slightly downwardly so, that when said clip is installed the legs of said third pair contact said upper flange surjyface of said ceiling member, saidlegs of said third 1 pair being substantially longer than the width of said upper flange surface of said ceilingmember whereby the forward ends of the legs of said third l pair extend substantially beyond the end of said upper flange surface of said ceiling member when said clip is installed, a fourth pair of legs each connected at therear end thereof to a respective .leg of said thirdpair of legs by respective ones of a third pair of bends in saidwire, the forward ends of the legs ofsaid fourthpair being joined by a fourth bend in said wire, the legs of said fourth pair of legs lying in a plane inclined slightly downwardly and extending in the opposite direction from the legs of said third pair of legs, the length of the legs of said fourth pair and the inclination of the planes of said third and fourth pairs of legs being selected so that said fourth bend lies adjacent the inner edge of said upper flange surface of said ceiling member when said clip is installed, said clip having sufficient springiness to permit the legs and bends of said upper portion to be carried over said upper flange surface of said ceiling member when said clip is installed.

to an elongated ceiling member, said runner and said memberextending transversely with respect to each other,

i 4. A Wire clip for use in attaching an elongated runner 'to an elongated ceiling member, said runner and said member extending transversely with respect to each other,

said ceiling member having an axially extending outer vertical surface and axially extending horizontal flange surfaces projecting laterally in one direction from said vertical surfaceat the top and bottom thereof, said runner having an axially extending vertical web and axially extending horizontal flange surfaces projecting laterally in opposite directions from the upper end of said vertical runner flanges being face of said member; said wire clip being formed from a single length of spring wire and comprising:

(1) a lower portion comprising a first pair ofylegs each located at a respective end of said lengthof Wire and each being adapted to contact the undersurface of a respective one of said runner flanges at a corresponding point adjacent said runner web, said points of 7 contact of the legs of said first pair having an axial location with respect to said runner intermediate the i limits o f contact between said runner and said memher, the legs of said first pair, when said clip is installed, each extending downwardly and outwardly to a point substantially beneath said vertical surface of said member and outward of the outer edges of r i the respective flanges of said runner;

(2) an intermedinte portion comprising a second pair of legs extending upwardly in a generally vertical ;plane and being joined at the lower ends thereof to f respective legs of said first pair by respective ones t of -a first pair of rounded bends in said wire, the legs of saidsecond pair being inclined inwardly toward each other but being separated by a substantial distance at the upper ends thereof, said legs of said second pair being adapted to lie adjacent said vertical surface of said ceiling member and said upper ends of said legs of said second pair being substantially lat the eight of said upper flange surface of said ceiling member when said clip is installed; and

each connected atthe rear end thereof to a respec- :tive leg of said second pair by respective ones of a second pair of rounded bends in saidwire, the legs of said third pair of legs lying in a plane'inclined slightly. downward-1y and being inclined outwardly so that when said clip is installed the legs: of said third pair contact said upper flange surface of saidlceiling member and diverge outwardly from the plane of said runner web, said legs of said third pair being substantially longer than the width of said upperfiange surface of said ceiling member whereby the forward end-sof the legs of said third pair extend substan- V tially beyond the endof said upper flange surface of said ceiling member when said clip is installed, a

- fourth pair of legs leach connected at the rear end thereofto a respective leg of said third pair of legs by respective ones of a third pair of rounded bends t in said wire, the forward ends of the legs of said fourth pair being joined by a fourth rounded bend said wire,the legs of said fourth pair of legs lying in a plane inclined slightly downwardly and being inclined inwardly toward each other and extending in the opposite direction from the legs of said third pair of legs, the length ofthe legs of said fourth pair and the inclination of the planes of said third and fourth pairs of legs beingselected so that said fourth rounded bend lies adjacent the inner edge of said upper flange surface of said ceiling member when said clip is installed, said clip having sufflcient springiness to permit the legs and bends of said upper portion to be carried over said upper flange surface of said ceiling member when said clip is installed.

.5. A wire clip for use in attaching an elongated runner said ceiling member having an axially extending outer vertical surface and axially extending horizontal flange surfaces projecting laterally in one direction from said vertical surface at the top and bottom thereof, said runner having an axially extending vertical web and axially extending horizontal flange surfaces projecting laterally in opposite directions from the upper end of said vertical web, the upper surfaces of said runner flanges being adapted to be in surface contact with said lower flange surface of said member; said wire clip being formed from y a single length of spring wire and comprising? i (l) a lower portion comprising a first pair of legs each located at a respective end of said length of Wire and each being adapted to contact the undersurface of a respective one of said runner flanges at acorresponding point ad acent said runner web-,said points of contact of the legs of said first pair having an axial location with respect to said runner intermediate the limits ,of contactbetween said runner and said member,jthe legs of said fir st pair, when said clip is instares; each 'extending ddwnwardly and outwardly to la points'nsb'tantially beneath said vertica-l surface of said, member and outward of the outer edges or the respective'flanges ofsaid runner;

an intermediate portion comprising a second pair of legs extending upwardly in a generally vertical plane and being joined at the lower ends thereof to respective le gsof'said firstpairby respective onesof a'fi rst pair of roundedbends in s aid wire, the legs of said secondpair being inclined'inwardly toward each other'but being separated by asubstantial distance at the upper ends thereoflsaid legs of said second pair being adapted to lie adjacenlt'said vertical surface of s'aid ceiling member and said upper ends of said legs of said second pair'being substantially at the height of said upper flang'e surface of said ceiling member when said clip is installed; and I (3) an upperportion Comprising a series of bonds in said wire forming a generally heart-shaped projection joined mo e ends thereof to the respectivefupper ends of the legs of said second pair of legs, said heartslraped projection extending beyond and being in contact with-said'upper flange surface of said ceiling memben's-aid projection being inclined downwardly and proportionedso that the apex of said heart lies adjacentthe inner edge of said upper flange surface of said ceiling member when said clip is installed, thedownward-inclination of said projection and the combined heights er said lower and intermediateportions being selected so that said wire clip must :be substantially distorted to force said projection over the upper flange surface of said ceiling member during installation of said clip, said distortion and the resulting spring tension in said clip being only ly were being adapted to be in surface contact with said lower flange surface of said member; said wire clip being formedfrom a' single length of stilt" wire and cornprising: j

' (1) a lower portion comprising a first pair of legs each located at" a respective end of said length of wire and each being adapted 'to contact the t ndersurface of a respective one of said runner flanges at a corrcsponding" point adjacent said runner web, the

legs ro-f aid first pair, when 'said' clip is installed, each extending 'downwardly andoutwardly toa point substantially "beneath said vertical surface'of said member wtward r h we e e spective flanges of said runner;

:(2) tan intermediate'portion'comprising a second pair partially relieved when' said clip is fully installed whereby said clip retains said runner and said ceiling member in tight-contact with each other.-

6." A wire clip for use in attaching an elongated runner to an elongated ceiling member, said runner and said Irnenrber extending transversely with respect to each other, said ceiling member having an axially. extending miter vertical surface and axially extending horizontal flange surfaces projecting laterally in one direction from said vertical surface at the top and bottom thereof, said runner having an axially extending vertical web andaxially extending horizontal flange surfaces projecting laterupper ends of said legs of said second pair being of legs extending upwardly in a 'generallyvertical plane and being joined at the lower ends thereof to respective legs of said first pair by respective ones of a first pair of bends in "said wire, said legs of said second pair beingadapted to lie adjacent said vertical surface of said ceiling member and the substantially at the height of said upper flange surface of said ceiling member when said clip is installed; and Y V an upper portion comprising a series of bends in said wire and forming aprojection joined at the; 7 ends thereof to the respective upper ends of the legs of said secondpair of legs,:said projection extending tion with the combined heights'of said lower and beyond and being in contact with said upper flange surface of said ceiling member, said projection hav- 7 ing a reentrant portion adapted to lie adjacent the inner edge of said Upper flange surface of said ceiling member when said clip is installed,- said projection having a downward inclination selected in combinaintermediate portions so that said wire clip must be substantially distorted to force said projection over the upper flange surface of said ceiling member during installation of said clip, said distortion and the resulting spring tension insaid clip being only partially relieved when said clip is fully installed whereby said clip retains said runner and said ceiling member in tight contact with each other.

No references cited. 

1. A WIRE CLIP FOR USE IN ATTACHING AN ELONGATED RUNNER TO AN ELONGATED CEILING MEMBER, SAID RUNNER AND SAID MEMBER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, SAID CEILING MEMBER HAVING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING OUTER VERTICAL SURFACE AND AXIALLY EXTENDING HORIZONTAL FLANGE SURFACES PROJECTING LATERALLY IN ONE DIRECTION FROM SAID VERTICAL SURFACE AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM THEREOF, SAID RUNNER HAVING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING VERTICAL WEB AND AXIALLY EXTENDING HORIZONTAL FLANGE SURFACES PROJECTING LATERIALLY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID VERTICAL WEB, THE UPPER SURFACES OF SAID RUNNER FLANGES BEING ADAPTED TO BE IN SURFACE CONTACT WITH SAID LOWER FLANGE SURFACE OF SAID MEMBER; SAID WIRE CLIP BEING FORMED FROM A SINGLE LENGTH OF STIFF WIRE AND COMPRISING A LOWER PORTION HAVING A FIRST PAIR OF LEGS EACH LOCATED AT A RESPECTIVE END OF SAID LENGTH OF WIRE AND EACH BEING ADAPTED TO CONTACT THE UNDERSURFACE OF A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID RUNNER FLANGES, AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION HAVING A SECOND PAIR OF LEGS EACH JOINED AT ONE END TO A RESPECTIVE ONE OF THE LEGS OF SAID FIRST PAIR AND BEING ADAPTED TO LIE ADJACENT SAID VERTICAL SURFACE OF SAID CEILING MEMBER, SAID FIRST PAIR OF LEGS EXTENDING GENERALLY INWARDLY AND UPWARDLY FROM SAID SECOND PAIR OF LEGS AND, WHEN SAID CLIP IS INSTALLED, EXTENDING GENERALLY IN ONE DIRECTION ALONG THE AXIS OF SAID RUNNER, AND AN UPPER PORTION FORMED BY A SERIES OF BENDS IN SAID WIRE AND BEING JOINED AT EACH END TO THE UPPER END OF A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID LEGS OF SAID SECOND PAIR, SAID UPPER PORTION EXTENDING GENERALLY IN SAID ONE DIRECTION AND BEING INCLINED DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID SECOND PAIR OF LEGS SO THAT SAID UPPER PORTION IS ADAPTED TO CONTACT THE UPPER FLANGE SURFACE OF SAID CEILING MEMBER WHEN SAID CLIP IS INSTALLED, SAID UPPER PORTION EXTENDING BEYOND THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID UPPER FLANGE SURFACE OF SAID CEILING MEMBER AND HAVING AN AREA DISPOSED ADJACENT THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID UPPER FLANGE SURFACE WHEN SAID CLIP IS INSTALLED, THE COMBINED HEIGHTS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE COMBINED HEIGHTS OF SAID CEILING MEMBER AND SAID RUNNER FLANGES, THE DOWNWARD INCLINATION OF SAID UPPER PORTION BEING SUFFICIENT TO REQUIRE A SUBSTANTIAL SPRINGING OF SAID CLIP FOR INSTALLATION THEREOF. 